Sommer Is Shilling W-15515 Brass Mule Kenney-6 Dickeson Copy

Coin Details

Description

A brass mule of the Sommer Islands Shilling series cataloged as W-15515 and Kenney-6 in the Dickeson copy program. Brass mules add the warm golden color of this alloy to a unique die combination, creating a visually distinctive piece within the Kenney mule classification. The Kenney-6 designation identifies this as the sixth cataloged mule variety. The brass composition was one of Dickeson's preferred metals for both regular copies and mule varieties, offering good durability and an attractive appearance that distinguished these pieces from both the copper originals and the white metal or nickel alternatives. Dr. Dickeson's decision to produce mules in brass as well as copper and white metal reflects the collector market's appetite for variety. Mid-19th-century numismatic culture placed considerable value on assembling pieces in multiple compositions, and the addition of mule varieties multiplied the collecting possibilities. A dedicated Sommer Islands copy collector could pursue both straight copies and mules in each available metal. The W-15515/Kenney-6 brass mule is an important piece in the series. Brass examples tend to survive in better condition than white metal pieces due to the alloy's greater durability, though they are not necessarily more common, as production quantities varied across metals and die combinations.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Brass mule varieties are somewhat better preserved than white metal mules but equally scarce in terms of original production.

Cross References

W-15515; Kenney-6; Dickeson Copy Mule series; Original: Sommer Islands Shilling, circa 1616